Jason Sudeikis has been picking up Best Television Actor – Musical/Comedy Series nominations and wins since the 2020 release of Ted Lasso which he co-created and stars in. He extends that winning streak this year as the show and his performance are repeat nominees for the 2022 Golden Globes.
The Saturday Night Live alum originally played the title character in NBC Sports promos in 2013 where he portrayed a lovable American college football coach who moved to London to head an English soccer team. Coach Lasso took on the job enthusiastically despite his self-confessed quip: “You could fill two Internets with what I don’t know about football.”
The Apple TV+ series has since become a favorite of many viewers who clung to its hilarious and heartfelt storylines during the pandemic. Framed as a funny series about a beloved sport, the show has also tackled the strength of female friendships, mental health challenges, the power of radical kindness, and the long-term effects of bullying.
It is also helping raise interest in soccer among US fans.
“What’s lucky for us in the States is that I think a lot of kids play at an early age. But then with the success of the women’s team over the last 12 years, soccer has gotten bigger and bigger,” Sudeikis said in his post-win virtual HFPA interview at the 2021 Golden Globes.
Born Daniel Jason Sudeikis in Fairfax, Virginia, the comedian grew up in Kansas and began his career in improv comedy at ComedySportz, iO Chicago (Improv Olympic), and The Second City before making it as an SNL writer and cast member from 2005-2013. In October 2021, he triumphantly returned to the show as a host.
Playing a proud dad in Ted Lasso came easy for the actor who has two children with former partner, actress-filmmaker Olivia Wilde. He previously spoke about the challenges faced by parents with growing kids, especially when they have a job that requires travel.
“There’s definitely more thoughtfulness there because it’s like, ‘Do I wanna go home? Will it be long enough where the little guy can come down there?’ So yeah, without a doubt, it makes you choose,” he said in an interview during promos for his 2016 animated film The Angry Birds.
Prior to Ted Lasso, he also recurred in shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Portlandia, and The Last Man on Earth.
Being in SNL gave him a chance to star in wacky roles but after his appearances in the Golden Globe-winning television comedy 30 Rock where he played opposite Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon as her love interest Floyd, he also emerged as a romantic leading man. Was that something that he set out to be, or did it just happen?
“It sort of happens. People see things in you, you know. It’s nice,” he said with a laugh. “It’s very flattering that people would view me that way. I know otherwise. It’s good lighting.”
The actor’s film credits include What Happens in Vegas (2008), The Bounty Hunter (2010), Horrible Bosses (2011), Hall Pass (2011), The Campaign (2012), We’re the Millers (2013), Sleeping with Other People (2015), Colossal (2016), The Angry Birds Movie (2016), Race (2016), Kodachrome (2017), Downsizing (2017), Driven (2018), The Angry Birds 2 (2019) and Booksmart (2019). He also did a cameo for the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian in 2019.
Apart from Ted Lasso’s second season, the actor’s 2021 projects also include the drama-thriller South of Heaven and the animated Hulu TV series Hit-Monkey.
He’s currently filming season three of Ted Lasso and will also appear in the upcoming comedy film El Tonto.